Electrical conductor terminal



April 29, 1941. L DE URzAlz 2,239,812

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR TERMINAL Filed Feb. 20, 1940 JNVENTOR. Las 176 @420% z/ clamping jaw I5 similar to the jaw I3.

cations which straddle the Patented Apaze, '1941 UNITED. STATES PATENTCFFICE 2,239,812 ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR TERMINAL v Luis ae Uma, New York, N. y. `lnmlieemen February zo. 1949, serien Ne. 919,979

2 Claims. (Cl. 173-259) face of the jaw I3 is provided with a groove I1 l This invention relates to new and useful improvements in terminals for electrical conductors, and more particularly to terminals for connecting conductors to electric batteries of the storage type.

One object ofthe invention is to provide an improved terminal of the type mentioned. which may be quickly and easily applied to and detached from the post of a battery without'the use of a tool.

` A further object is to provide a terminal which cannot be detached from the battery post by accident. r

AA still further object is to provide a .terminal of the general type disclosed in United States Patent Number 2,128,888, dated August 30, 1938, but wherein thevspring clamp may be readily placed in surrounding relation to the jaws of the terminal, from the upper face thereof.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a `plan view of the connector,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l,

Fig. 4 is an end view oi theconnector,

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. l,

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 9-8 of Fig. 1, but showing the connector in position on the battery DOSI?.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the connector detached from the post,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a spring clamp for holding the connector in attached position, and

Fig. 9 is a persp tive view of the connector showing the manner in which the spring clamp is applied thereto.

Referring to the drawing, I designates a tubular member within which an end of the conductor II is supported. Formed on and extending from one side of the member I0 is a lug I2, the outer end of which is formed integral with an arcuate clamping jaw I3. A side portion of the lug I2 is reduced in thickness as at I4. To this reduced portion I4 is pivotally connected an arcuate The inner bifurcated, resulting in furreduced portion Il. A pin I6 passes through the furcations of the jaw I and through the reduced portion I4 of the lug I2, whereby the said Jaw I5 is pivotally connected to said reduced portion and may be swung toward or away from the jaw I3.

end of the jaw I5 is As shown in Figs. 4 and 7, the outer peripheral which extends entirely therearound, while the Cil corresponding face o! the jaw I5 is smooth. As

shown in Fig. 5, the inner faces of the jaws I3.

and I5 are inclined inwardly and downwardly so that when they are in closed position. as shown in Fig. 1, the openings between the laws is of the shape of a truncated cone with its smaller end downward. This construction is provided in order that the inner faces of the jaws will snugly iit the downwardly tapered battery post I 8, as shown in Fig. 6. Because of the shape of this post and the corresponding shape of the inner faces of the jawsythe terminal cannot move upwardly from the post after its jaws have been clamped thereon in a manner now to be described.

l'n Fig. 8 there is illustrated a' spring clamp I9 which is employed for drawing the jaws I3 and I5 together so as to hold the same tightly to the post Il. This clamping spring consists of a ilat spring band in the form of an open loop having the free end of its side portion 20 curved outwardly to a slight degree as at 2| and having the free end of its other side portion 22 bent sharply to extend outward and then given a half turn to form a thumbpiece 23.

When applying this improved terminal to the battery post, the arcuate Jaws I3 and I5 are placed in surrounding relation to the battery post I8 so as to conform with its taper. The side portion 20 of the spring clamp I3 is then positioned to rest within the groove I'I of the Jaw I3, as shown in Fig. 9. By placing the thumb upon the thumbpiece 23, the side portion 22 of the spring clamp is then forced downwardly over the jaw I5 and into engagement with its outer or vertical face. Because of the binding action of the spring clamp I9, the jaws of the terminal will be held in tight engagement with the post VI3 and cannot be removed therefrom without first removing the spring clamp by an upward pressure on its thumbpiece 23. After the removal of the spring clamp, the jaw I5 may be swung upon its pivot I6 1and the terminal removed from the battery pos What is claimed, is:

1. Means for connecting an electrical conductor to a battery post, including a conductor end support, an arcuate clamping jaw formed integral with said support, an arcuate clamping jaw pivotally connected to said support, the outer peripheral face of one of said jaws being grooved and the corresponding face of the other of said jaws being smooth, and a spring clamp surrounding said jaws for drawing the same together, said clamp being in the form of an open loop and having a side portion disposed in said groove, and a side portion disposed against said smooth iace of the other jaw, the last-named side portion having a thumbpiece whereby the clamp may be moved longitudinally of the battery post.

2. Means for connecting an electrical conductor to a battery post, including a conductor end support, an arcuate clamping Jaw formed integral with said support, an arcuate clamping jaw pivotally. connected to said support, the outer peripheral face of one of said jaws being grooved 10 upper faces of the Jaws.

and the corresponding face of the other of said jaws being smooth, and a spring clamp surrounding said jaws for drawing the same together, said clamp being in the form of an open loop and having a side Portion disposed in said groove and a side portion disposed against said smooth face of the other jaw and the last-named side portion having an end portion bent outwardly and twisted to form a thumbpieoe in a plane parallel to the LUIS DE URZAIZ. 

